Android has ruined iOS for me

Ever since I switched to Android (for my phone) I’ve kept just half an eye on what goes on in the iPhone world, and when the new iPad turned out to not be an upgrade over the iPad 2 in all aspects of the device, my interest in iOS fell even more. Despite that, I do pay attention to what is announced, like the sixth iPhone, the iPhone 5 (gonna keep pointing out this mathematical error until the day I die).

People are saying that the new iPhone isn’t innovative, as if that’s somehow a negative thing. I treasure the fact that we’re now in a phase of mobile devices where generational differences aren’t night and day, as it means that the life span of a single device is longer. I think the iPhone 5 does a lot of things right, and I agree with adding screen size vertically to still make it easy to use with one hand. The screen resolution is decent, I assume the screen itself isn’t bad, and the size and material choices are added bonuses.

Yet, there is no way I’m switching back to an iPhone at this point, and even my iPad 2 – which I have no option but to keep using due to the apps I use for studying – is seriously getting on my nerves.

The reason was part of the joke video I posted when the iPhone 5 was announced. No matter how much I try to tell myself that Windows Phone and iOS are proper OSes, I can’t shake the feeling that they both make for some ridiculously stupid devices. Every time I use my iPad, it feels like I’ve been handed an awl to do the work of a power drill, even though there are apps on the iPad I can’t get on Android. It didn’t use to be like this. I used to think – and still do, really – that you could get iOS to do some pretty amazing things if you just knew how. That’s still true, and I believe that a proficient iOS user is getting a heck of a lot more out of it than the average Android user is getting out of his/her device. What I failed to realize was what would happen if you took that same proficiency and willingness to find unusual solutions and apply it to Android.

There are a few apps in particular I’m referring to for my own sake. While apps like Mobile ODIN and Titanium Backup are awesome to have in your toolbox, they’re not what keeps me on Android. The apps that keep me on Android are Dolphin, Tasker (and its plugins), Unlock With WiFi, and Dropsync. More than any other apps, those four are the ones I find myself missing when I’m using my iPad.

Dolphin’s place on that list is actually not because of the app itself, but rather because of the plugins. Cmarks puts my bookmarks in Dolphin, and LastPass handles my logins. Without them, using the browser is a borderline pointless experience, where I don’t know where to go or how to log in when I get there.

This site doesn’t lack examples of why Tasker is on my list. More than any other app, this is the one I couldn’t live without. And yet I did, less than a year ago. Then again, my phone was mostly a clock back then, which it isn’t now. Tasker is the true brain of my phone, handling all the things that makes my phone useful. Special settings for home, outside, school, sleep, the movie theatre, and so on. Multiple different todo lists that trigger on things no GPS based todo list system can replicate. Custom quick access settings panels both for standard settings and things like turning off my PC monitors, or checking local webcams to see the weather outside when I’m in an “underground” lecture hall. If I never touch my phone for an entire day, just keep it with me, Tasker will still have done more for me automatically than I could ever do manually with an iPhone.

I actually get annoyed that my phone is displaying email notifications while I’m using my iPad, because I feel like the phone should know that I’m on my iPad and that the iPad will notify me instead. That probably sounds absurd to some, but it’s something that would have taken me 3 minutes to set up if the iPad had been running Android. I have a set of expectations now that most people don’t have, because I’m used to a higher level of awareness among my devices than what most people think is even possible.

Unlock With WiFi turns off my pattern lock at home. Invaluable, as it annoys me to no end having to type a pin on the iPad in a situation where it doesn’t need to be secured. The technology is as simple as creating a bridge between connected WiFi network and security status, and yet, it’s not possible on iOS. This is prime example of what I mean by it being stupid.

Finally, Dropsync. It sits in the background and syncs all sorts of data to my Dropbox, all automatically. Not just photos, or even screenshots, but game saves, text files, backup files, and so on. I can’t even count how many times I’ve taken screenshots on my iPad, locked the screen, put it down, and then wondered why on Earth the images weren’t on my computer already – because that’s how my Android devices work. Once you’re used to something fixing itself, going back to a system where it’s a manual task just seems so beyond pointless. Imagine if you had to go back to starting your car with a hand crank. That’s about how it feels like using a device without Dropsync.

All of these are third party apps, and I don’t have many good things to say about the official side of Android since 2.3. However these are also apps that can’t work on other OSes, due to limitations placed there by the makers.

I look at the new iPad and the iPhone 5, and I see two nice looking devices with a solid operating system that’s perfect for average consumers, backed up by an app eco-system that I truly wish was available on Android. Two devices I would have drooled over for hours 10 months ago. Now I have a hard time seeing (for my own use that is) the iPhone 5 as any different than a Nokia 3310: Great if you want to do certain things, but too stupid to do what I need these days.

Once upon a time, having email on my phone was enough. Then came Android, and now I’m not happy unless the email notification is automatically situation-based, and gives me the ability to open the email on my computer from my phone.

About the Author

Andreas Ødegård was an associate editor at Pocketables. He's more interested in aftermarket (and user created) software and hardware than chasing the latest gadgets and tends to stick with his choice of device for a long time as a result of that. Currently that includes an iPad mini and a Samsung Galaxy S II.

Greg Malinao

Great article pointing out some key difference between Android and iOS.

To each his own and Apple does make some great products and for most people their OS seems easier to use than Android. But Android has so much more functionality and flexibilty built into the OS that apple will not allow for.

Each OS has its pro’s and con’s, but for the very reasons you listed above – Android is the clear choice for me.

Tray Rolin

Agreed. Andriod is just so much more free in what you can do with it, that’s why I stick with Andriod. but most people are average users and they don’t need to do as much with there phone or even want too. But Like stated to each his own.

Eric Ackermann

Based on my unsystematic observation, I find that iOS supporters tend to be of the “it just works” school of thought. The iDevice is a tool not an end in itself. They tend not to be too concerned how it works, only that it does. This is neither good or bad, just a difference in how they view the role of the iDevice.

Vakeros

Hi Erik,
Agree with your observation that it just works. However, I also agree with Andreas that an Android device is potentially a better device.
If we compare them with knives for the moment – an Android device is like a Swiss Army Knife with lots of tools for getting different jobs done. Whereas an iOS device is like they saw a SAK and then said, you don’t want scissors, you don’t need a saw, you don’t need an awl – but you can have a knife, spoon and bottle opener.
If all you need / want is a knife, spoon and bottle opener, then the iOS device isn’t too bad – it gets the job done and spoon really is shiny and the knife is really sharp. But if you need a corkscrew, then you are going to have to be imaginative to use the knife to try to get that wine bottle open.
The Android device is more versatile, due to the underlying OS. The fact that the best hardware is also used for Android devices and more people are using Android devices means that iOS will continue to appeal to less and less people.
One final point: these are meant to be smartphones or as I still think of them as Pocket PCs. You should have the ability to use them as you wish, many don’t use more complex programs on their PC, but are happy with Office, e-mail and Web. However, that which was once complex do to the way it had to be setup is becoming less so, just notice how many people use add-ons with their web-browsers etc.

Eric Ackermann

Vakeros: Excellent comparison!

So far I have tended to use my devices as pocket tablets/PDAs. With the exception of the Galaxy Note II, IMHO the Pocket PC functionality is not there yet for me. However, based on this article, perhaps it is because I am not approaching the right way.

AC-130

iOS devices pride themselves upon simplicity, beauty and ease. I get the impression that Android users are above average in their knowledge of tech, and that an iPhone would be a bit too restricting for them.

I am an iPhone user because of the design, the feel and the ease. My family and friends have iPhone’s so I can interact with them all in multiple ways, even as I don’t have Facebook. My MacBook sync’s with the iPhone so I can continue where I left off.

I guess if my family and friends had an Android device things would be differently. Some good points you made

Jeff Williams

Synchronization will probably continue to require the same operating system shared between devices unless someone comes up with an app that can overcome the hurdles of working simultaneously with two or more OSs.

This may not happen as the resources available in mobile devices are limited. Heck, even bridging any MacOS and Windows is kludgy at best.

Andreas Ødegård

Well, AutoRemote has torn down that border between Windows and Android. I can easily set up my phone to go into silent mode while I’m using a specific program on Windows, as an example.

Guthrie

Great take. Watching my changed response to the iPhone 5 (6!) launch had me thinking of the contrasts. A year ago I would have been first to pre-order. Thanks in some part to your articles I switched from an iPhone 4S to the Galaxy S3 recently and it was quite a conversion carrying a handset that leaves very little to compromise in the computing realm.

It has left me more frequently frustrated when I want to immediately do something when I’m relaxing with my iPad 3 that I could accomplish with a pc or my phone. But I haven’t found a good analog for the tablet space yet, Android still seems best suited to phones.

Andreas Ødegård

Yeah I can’t quite get used to Android on tablets either…simply missing too many core apps I need in education

Abraham

You guys are pushing me to the brink of getting Tasker. I have been holding myself from getting it, but I believe you guys have broke me… I can now see myself in a few hours messing with Tasker.

Andreas Ødegård

There’s always room for more on the Tasker side of life :D

Guthrie

Hey Andreas, do you run a stock ROM on your phone? You’ve probably covered this at some point..

Andreas Ødegård

I do. My phone runs stock 2.3.5 and my tablet stock 4.0.4 IIRC. Both are rooted, got Mobile ODIN (for updates) and all that, I just never found a compelling reason to sit down and flash a third party ROM.

etiyi

Tasker sounds like magic. I really should sit down and set it up.

Ha

I know some people will still say that you can mod iOS through jailbreaking, but they don’t realize how limited they are compared to Android. Thanks for pointing out some stuff that I have yet to try.

Len

The main reason apple is failing to android is its continued, encumberring relationship with iTunes. You always have to sync it to a computer and itunes is always updating and u dont have freedom of choice.

Salad Snake

I know how irritating it is to have apple update their stuff like every year, that’s why I still use my 2006 macbook. Not many complaints, but one device I can complain about is the new iPod Nano. Its completely worthless and the screen is both too small to use and too worthless to justify the breakability factor.

The iPad on the other hand is lovely, if it has an SD card slot it would be brilliant but whatever.

Doug Culp

Stupid Apple. Stupid Windows Phone. (I know, I make an insightful point, right?). I really do hate Apple products and the non-creativity that goes with them. There’s no manipulation, no room for improvement, you either like it and use it, or you hate it and use it anyway. Most people I know, who have iPhones are in their huge, electric security blanket and they’ll never change over to Android. So sorry for them. Too bad that they’re being limited to the creativity of “The Genius Bar.” Geniuses…really Apple? A bit pretentious are we? Android will always be ahead of Apple. Dolphin is such an awesome browser.

goober999

ios devices-like buying a car and then being able to drive it. android devices-you have to be a mechanic before you buy the car then you spend all your free time fixing it, then you tell all your friends how great it is after you added new tires,wheels,exhaust,paint,performance parts,etc. Then you drive it to work at 55 mph like everyone else on the freeway.

Vakeros

Interesting comparison goober,
Unfortunately I disagree with it. It is more like comparing a saloon (I think in the US you call them sedans) and a MPV (a people carrier.) Both will take you from A to B. One may have a bigger tank and a bigger boot, but the key diffences are versatility and comfort.
In the saloon, you sit in it and as driver you can adjust your chair and mirrors, the passengers can’t adjust anything. The boot is fixed in size (with maybe a slot in the armrest where something from the boot (trunk in the US) can fit through.
In the MPV, as driver you can do the same as in the saloon, but when you aren’t moving you could spin around and face the passengers. The passengers can move their seats backwards and forwards and even spin around and face others further back, and on many models lower them flat to make a bed.
When you need to increase size, you just lift the seats up against the walls and you have an almost full van space.
Now if all you want is a saloon to get you from A to B, then buy one. If you want both the versatility and comfort found in an MPV then that’s what you should get.
There is no need to be a mechanic for either unless you get a flat.
PS In this comparison the MPV is much cheaper to fix than the saloon and costs less in the first place and goes further and is more fuel economic. But some people just prefer saloons, because they look more cool and too many choices might confuse them!

Ken

I liked Android the first time I put it on my HTC HD2. I was pure Windows WM6.x before. So, I’ve never had an iPhone.
I can see how many would like the iPhone, like my wife. But, we decided to get her the same phone as me, so I could help her. She doesn’t do nearly as much as I do; so maybe it would have been good to get her the iPhone… Not sure.
I can see some like Apple and for good reasons, but I like what I can do with my Android phone as mentioned above, just slightly different list of reasons.

Carlos

I still haven’t set up my tasker… a Shame I know. Heading to Tasker Guide after this!